I suppose it would be OK to text in certain places that it's not appropriate to be using a cell phone; while you're in a drive-thru, or happily tapping away in the backseat of a taxi cab, but in most scenarios, it is just as rude to be clicking your thumbs through texts as it is to be flapping your lips on your phone.
I don't mean to be ageist, but there's a younger demographic that I've encountered that thinks this is OK — I say this because I found myself chewing out my 20-year-old sister several times (I still love you, baby girl) over the long weekend for texting.
Yes, I know that younger people (man I sound SO old) text more often than they talk on the phone and maybe starving college students can't afford pricey smartphones to email on — I get the practice, but not the dependence.
To see the places I have given my sister the stink eye for texting (including the movies, the most sacred of cell phone abstinence), just read more.
Stink eye delivered: At the dinner table (really?), in a movie theater (come on), and (my fave) while we're having an intent conversation, just the two of us. In an effort to keep our sisterly bond intact, she gamely apologized, but I knew she'd have those texts flowing the minute she was free to, when the old-lady big sister looked the other way.
And so I urge you, on behalf of the geezers who don't understand why you are always texting, indulge us and don't text anywhere you would feel weird talking on a cell phone.
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By Caprice
Marni
Laura Clement
I completely agree... the movies, out to eat (anywhere!), and in the middle of a conversation are not places to talk or text.
Did you know texting and/or talking while driving is the equivalent of having a shot (or two) or whiskey? They both impair your judgement and driving ability the same way.
1I have had to ask my husband not to bring his phone to the dinner table. He would put it there near his water glass (in restaurants and at home) as if he was so important he couldn't have it out of his sight. He recently caught himself texting during dinner and apologized profusely. It has not been anywhere near dinner since then. He didn't realize it was a habit of his.
2Personally I would say that the texting at the dinner table is unacceptable, except under certain situations. I would say that it is a factor of the number of people at the table and the company there. For instance if you are at a dinner with a large number of people and there for some obligated reason I would say it is acceptable. On the other hand if you're out on a date with just your gf/bf of course that's unacceptable.
I think it's all a matter of multitasking / focus. If it's somewhere that you're supposed to be focused on a conversation with one person then it's unacceptable. But if you're there for other reasons then it would be fine. I would even go so far to say at the movie theatre would be fine so long as you're doing it in a manner which the brightness from your phone doesn't bother anyone else in the theatre, like if you're in the back row. You're the only one missing out on the movie in that case.
3Texting/calling at the dinner table is okay with me if there is an emergency, or if someone is coming over for dinner and is asking for directions/has arrived/got lost by the second set of railroad tracks. Otherwise, it can wait.
4What about like in the picture here? Is it rude to text while having your hair done in a salon (presuming the phone is not in the stylist's way)?
5Its one thing if you are trying to have a convo at the dinner table and the other person is texting while you talk or if the person in a movie is next to you texting causing a beacon of light in an otherwise dark theatre - but if its not bothering you, who cares?!? Its not like talking on the phone in public which is noisy and intrusive to others. I cant think of many other scenarios were texting would be taboo.
6I think you're too hard on texters. Sure, texting while having a conversation is rude, but that's because they're splitting their attention . . . not because the text is inherently a bad thing.
Great times to text instead of calling:
7* in a library
* to organize where/when you're going to meet someone (when you don't have the time to talk for more than a few second)
* live-tweeting an event
As a twenty-one year old college student, I have to say I AGREE. I think cellphone talking/texting is one of my biggest pet peeves.
Last year, a friend and I hosted a pretty ritzy New Year's Eve dinner party. Roasted duck and all. Everyone was seated and just as I was about to take my first bite of roasted garlic potatoes, my friend (also my co-party-host!) answers her phone and gets up to take a personal/casual call.
I've also been slighted by having a friend take out their phone to text someone while we're having a one-on-one intimate conversation.
It's sad when this sort of thing happens because the cellphone user is saying: I don't respect you enough to give you my attention.
8I've lost count of the times I've tried to converse with my brother and nephew while they're tapping away on their cells, clearly ignoring me. It's just plain rude, and if you're driving it's plain DANGEROUS.
9i hate it at the movie theatre. those things are bright and really distracting.
it is rude to do while you're having a conversation with someone.
10oh texting is waaaaay useful in a noisy bar/club!
11I think texting at the dinner table or the movies is okay as long you're not actually in a one-on-one conversation with someone and you're absolutely discreet, like in the theatres: over time I've memorized my keys so I can text without looking. I just slip my hands inside my purse where the backlight won't blind anyone and the clicking is muffled.
12I agree! and I'm a 23 year old, I get irritated when my friends do it, when other people do it, especially in the times when it occurs in a place where it's supposed to be quiet, I dislike hearing the clicks & ticks from the pressing of the keys... rant over! by I agree that it works wonders in a noisy bar/club... lol
13"Yes, I know that younger people (man I sound SO old) text more often than they talk on the phone and maybe starving college students can't afford pricey smartphones to email on — I get the practice, but not the dependence."
Wait. Did you just imply that emailing from a phone isn't as bad?
I see them as basically equivalent socially. I can't think of any situation in which one would be taboo and the other permissible. Same, of course, for IM or web browing, using an app (except for situation-appropriate fun, involving friends, or to show off pictures or something socially appropriate) or whatever on a phone.
14Ohh man!! My sister's 3 years younger than me. (Sometimes I forget this cuz we're so close.) But, I was givin her the stink eye almost all of last weekend! She txt's more than she talks on the phone..and in all the wrong areas just like your younger sister, GeekSugar..the funny thing is, she's been txting more often since she's gotten the iPhone. But you're totally right, there are certain places that people should not be txting.
Random run-off thought: I tease my sister all the time about txting and walking. I read an article a couple months ago about people who txt and walk..but don't watch WHERE they're walking and end up getting into accidents, causing accidents and/or injuring themselves and others. Whenever she's txting while she's walking with me, I tell her, "Don't txt &walk. It's dangerous!!" lol She hates it..but she gets the point &puts the phone away...
15You forgot the most important one. Don't text while driving!
One of my friends lost her life that way. An oncoming driver wasn't paying attention to the road (Most likely because she was texting her boyfriend) and swerved into my friend's lane. They were both killed instantly.
Yea. So, please don't text and drive.
16I found it sad when a friend of mine demonstrated she could text much faster than she could write or type. She even chooses text directions, notes, names, numbers, etc when we're in the same room and she could easily jot it on a notepad. It's a little disturbing.
17I guess it varies from country to country. Here in my country we are massive texters, because the cost of text messaging is way cheaper than a phone call. For as low as P10 ($0.20), those on prepaid subscriptions can avail of unlimited text messaging services for a week.
Having said that, I sometimes find traffic officers texting in the middle of conducting traffic, and people in general walk around texting. In fact, during a school cave in in a provincial area, one man who was trapped under the debris was able to text his colleagues who were outside saying he was trapped (and even added a small smiley face in an attempt at levity).
So, if you do decide to visit here in Manila, don't feel put upon when we text while talking to you, it's not that we're not paying attention, it's that texting has become second nature to us
18What is live-tweeting?
19I could not agree more with this! I can't stand how many people my age do this. It's just silly!
20I'm anti texting.
21I love texting. but I agree.
sometimes I'm trying to have a convo with my 18 yr old sister and she's typing away as I'm telling her the tragedy that was my day. lol (dramatic, yes!).
but I feel bad cuz I know I've done it too.
22and she can nag about her 20 yr old sister doing the same! lol
23It drives me crazy too! I find so many people in my classes do it, and they have their phones on vibrate, so you hear that - especially if it's on the desks. I find it so rude (it's rude either way, but it's especially rude when done by those that sit in plain view of the prof).
24I agree! I think texting might actually be even worse than calling. Because when you call on the phone, it's obvious you're being rude and don't care. But texting is like you're trying to get away with it without actually talking on the phone. Which is exactly what you're doing.
25Blackwidowchick -
Do you use the microblogging platform Twitter? (http://www.twitter.com) Live-tweeting is the same as live-blogging, except each "tweet" can only be 140 characters long. This makes texting the perfect way to live-blog at an event/convention/etc.
My Twitter page: http://www.twitter.com/jsouthard
26meh i don't see the big deal. the only time i'm opposed to it is while driving.
27I used to hate texting and was annoyed by it until I realized how much I disdain long distance verbal communication. I rather text you or send an email on my iPod Touch or Laptop. I never use minutes, unless I'm calling the bank and I don't have a land line.
Texting to me is only annoying in dark places when the back light is flaring and of course driving, but I don't know anyone who can text and drive. It seems a bit impossible.
Shouldn't you be eating? Who cares if texting happens over dinner. For this attitude blame my older cousin. I have been habituated and assimilated now I'm no longer phased. Now if I could get a smart phone embedded into my arm...
28I love texting, and I am good at it too. But I know where and when to text. I can't stand when people text or talk on the phone during a meal. It's rude, and it'd be a deal breaker if a guy did that.
29I love to text too, but there is a time and place for it. I agree, if you are hosting a party and need the phone nearby incase someone gets lost... yeah, that's fine. Or in an emergency... like your sister is going to have a baby any minute or you are waiting to hear how someone's surgery went... yes, okay. But once you've received those calls/texts, put the phone up!
30I am VERY guilty of putting my cell on the table and answering certain texts at any time... sorry, but I have two teens that text me and if it means I'm rude, so be it. It could be an emergency!
31The only time I will NOT pick up my cell is while driving. Ever.
texting is easy just accept it.
32my sister is just as bad
33we could be having a heart to heart and she cant stand to miss a text
so brutal!
I think my worst pet peeve, when it comes to texting, is when people text while checking out at the register or texting while crossing the street. Especially while crossing the street because they can get hurt real bad if they don't look around.
34i text so much and my phone is imate its soo heavy
35i got joint pain sometimes LOL so i had to cut it back 4 a while calling instead !
The other night a group of friends went out and we all rode in the same car. I basically forgot one girl was with us because she didn't talk the whole ride! She was texting her boyfriend the entire time and continued to do so all night long. I don't think she had any fun... I barely even remember her being there, probably because she was lurking in the back with her phone.
36I can understand that there are times when talking and texting are inappropriate and I try not in those circumstances. I do think that other people need to get with the times a little. I have a Straight Talk phone with unlimited talk, text and 30mb of data for $45 per month, it's not a smartphone but it's affordable. I use my phone all the time for work and to talk to friends, I need good signal so my calls don't get dropped which I get with Straight Talk because they are on Verizon's network. I'm sorry if my talking offends some people but It's not going to stop me.
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